ABSTRACT Interactions between flying foxes and plants provide important ecosystem services, but also cause conflict with humans. A literature review revealed geographic and thematic gaps in flying fox research during 1990-2015. Data on the island flying fox Pteropus hypomelanus in Peninsular Malaysia were thus collected to support flying fox conservation. A questionnaire survey showed that negative local attitudes towards P. hypomelanus are due to concerns over fruit raiding in orchards and gardens, hygiene, and noise. Next-Generation Sequencing of P. hypomelanus droppings suggests that its diet is actually dominated by wild figs. Additionally, camera-trapping revealed its role as a pollinater of the durian tree Durio zibethinus, which produces commercially important fruit. This thesis thus helps us to better understand the ecological role of flying foxes, and to argue for the conservation of bats and forests.